Lost our public defender

Posted by David Hardy · 2 April 2008 09:34 AM

Bob Hooker. A few years back, the PD's office was a bunch of demoralized people. The two best defense guys in town, Hooker and Bob Hirsch, gave up private practice, took it over, brought in experienced people like my former law partner, and turned it around. My former partner reported they're up to 50% wins on jury trials, and winning a majority of motions to suppress. Heard the Office is now among the top five in the country.

Last night he was driving home, north up Main Street -- a little two to four lane urban road, not a fast moving one. Unfortunately, two teens decided to drag race going south on it. One, in a pickup, went airborne crossing the RR tracks, which are on a grade, and went head on into Hooker's SUV. An officer saw the crash, and says Hooker was gone when he got to him.

UPDATE: talked to a PD. Hooker was tied up in traffic on Main St., a slow road leading north out of downtown. The drag racers were heading south at an estimated 100 mph on that congested road, went airborne, crossed into the northbound lanes and smashed into his car.